Chapter 5: Figures Shenanigans In The Miload Manor
Beatrice sat in her bedroom, her usual haven of solitude after the Forbidden library had been burnt down. The air was thick with the scent of books, oranges, and the faint hum of magical energy. She floated quietly in her favorite spot—the bed she shared with her "contractor"—cradling a small, painted wooden figure in her hands. Her delicate fingers brushed over the finely carved details: the curls of her twin drills, the soft pink of her dress, and the faint pout etched on the figure's face.
Her chest tightened as she stared at it, the memories it carried flooding her mind with vivid clarity. Emilia had given her this, something she had made, knowing that her "contractor" had a talent for such things. Beatrice continued to stare at the figure until she noticed something else.
"What is that, I suppose?" Beatrice muttered, her gaze drifting to a pink book that seemed to be glowing among the mini collection of books Emilia had made for her. She had never seen that book in her life.
Beatrice gently set down her figure and moved closer to grab it, but before she could touch it—"Betty, are you ready to leave? The others are waiting for us to go for the tower expedition." Emilia entered the room, noticing the figure in Beatrice's hands.
"I see you have the figure I made for you," Emilia said, then glanced at the pink book Beatrice had been inspecting. "Oh, you were reading, weren't you, Betty?" She smiled, standing next to her "contracted" spirit.
"Yes, I suppose, but this book wasn't here before and it started glowing, in fact," Beatrice replied, which prompted Emilia to move closer.
As Emilia grabbed the book with Beatrice, its glow intensified, surprising both of them. Before they could even react, the room was engulfed in light. In an instant, memories of how the figures were made flooded their minds.
Flashback Pov:
It was a quiet evening in the mansion when Subaru first stumbled into her sanctuary, grinning widely, something hidden behind his back.
"Beako! Guess what I've got for you!" he announced, his voice cutting through the tranquility of Miload library like a stone through still water.
Beatrice didn't look up from her book. "If it's another one of your foolish ideas, I'm not interested, I suppose."
Subaru huffed but didn't give up. "Oh, come on, don't be like that. I worked really hard on this!"
She finally glanced at him, her expression unimpressed. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's utterly ridiculous, in fact."
With a dramatic flourish, Subaru revealed a small wooden figure. Beatrice blinked, momentarily speechless. The carving was of her—a miniature replica, down to the smallest detail. The twin drills of her hair were carved with delicate precision, her frilly dress painted in soft pink hues. Even the expression on its face, a mix of pout and regal pride, was unmistakably hers.
"Ta-da!" Subaru declared, holding it out to her. "The great Beatrice in miniature form! What do you think?"
Beatrice stared at the figure, her fingers itching to touch it, though she kept her hands folded in her lap. "You made this, I suppose?"
"Yep!" Subaru grinned ear to ear. "Took me forever to get the drills right, but I think I nailed it!"
Beatrice hesitated before reaching out and taking the figure. The wood was smooth under her fingertips, the craftsmanship shockingly refined for someone like Subaru. She turned it over, examining every detail.
"It's... acceptable, in fact," she said quietly, though her cheeks flushed faintly.
Subaru laughed. "Coming from you, that's practically a five-star review!"
A week later, Subaru returned with another figure. This time, it was Emilia.
"Look! It's Emilia-tan in all her glory!" Subaru said, holding the figure up like a trophy.
The miniature Emilia was stunning. Her silver hair was captured in flowing strands, and her lilac dress was painted with delicate care. Her expression was serene, radiating the warmth and kindness that defined her.
Beatrice tilted her head, pretending not to care as she glanced at the figure. "You're wasting your time on frivolous things, I suppose."
Subaru just laughed. "Hey, it's not a waste if it makes people happy. Plus, I wanted everyone to have a little version of themselves. It's my way of saying thanks."
The collection began to grow.
Ram was next, her figure carved in her maid uniform, with her signature scowl. Subaru had captured her sharp eyes and aloof expression perfectly.
"You've even captured her sour face, I suppose," Beatrice commented, earning a laugh from Subaru.
"Hey, don't tell her I said this, but I kind of like her resting glare. It's very Ram," Subaru said with a wink.
"I bet that she would say: Barusu, this is passable at best," Subaru said in his best Ram impression, pretending to mimic her voice.
Frederica's figure followed soon after, her beastly claws and sharp teeth depicted with striking accuracy. Subaru had even added a playful glint to her painted eyes, and the flowing purple of her dress left Beatrice begrudgingly impressed.
Petra's figure was vibrant and cheerful, her bright smile radiating the youthful energy that Subaru seemed to adore. Even Otto's, which Subaru insisted deserved a spot despite Beatrice's protests, found a place on the shelf.
"You waste your time on such things, in fact," she grumbled, though she couldn't help but admire the little Otto figure's earnest expression and his trademark merchant's bag.
Subaru shrugged. "It's not a waste if it makes people smile."
The day Subaru unveiled Garfiel's figure was particularly memorable.
"Behold! The ultimate display of raw manliness!" Subaru declared, holding up the carving.
The figure depicted Garfiel mid-roar, his muscles exaggerated just enough to make the figure both imposing and a little comical. His sharp teeth were painted with almost alarming precision, and the vibrant yellow of his hair practically glowed.
"It's loud and obnoxious, just like him, I suppose," Beatrice said, though a faint smirk tugged at her lips.
"Exactly!" Subaru said, setting it beside the others.
And then there was Rem.
Subaru had paused before making her figure, as if unsure how to approach it. Beatrice had seen it—his hesitation. He hadn't known how to carve Rem in her current state, trapped in a coma. But Subaru had never been one to back down from a challenge. So, after much thought, he had decided to make a figure of her asleep, peaceful, and serene, as if frozen in time, waiting for the day she would wake up.
When Subaru had placed Rem's sleeping figure before Beatrice, it had been hard for her to hide the knot that formed in her chest, knowing how difficult it was for her contractor to do this. Subaru had painted her skin with the same pale complexion that had once radiated life, her hair depicted in delicate strands of blue and white. Her expression, though wooden, seemed to convey a deep peace—a stillness that Beatrice couldn't bear to look at for too long.
Subaru had stood beside her, his face somber. "I thought it'd be better to make her like this, you know? Asleep, waiting. I'll get her back, Beako. I know it."
Beatrice had swallowed the lump in her throat, looking at the figure. "You're foolish," she had muttered, though the words came out softer than she intended. "But I suppose you have your reasons."
Subaru had nodded, never one to back down from his optimism. "Rem's going to wake up. I'm sure of it."
One by one, the figures filled the library shelf Subaru had repurposed. Each piece told a story, a memory carved and painted with love.
Beatrice stared at the shelf now, the figures lined up neatly in a row. The library was silent, but in her mind, she could still hear Subaru's voice—his laughter, his rambling explanations about the carving process, his endless optimism.
Her hand hovered over one of the figures—Subaru's own. He had carved himself last, presenting it with a sheepish grin.
"Not gonna lie, it feels weird making a figure of myself," he'd said. "But hey, can't leave out the main character, right?"
The figure was simple compared to the others, yet it captured Subaru perfectly. His signature tracksuit was painted in bold colors, and his grin was unmistakable.
Beatrice closed her eyes, letting the memories wash over her of the time Subaru showed her the fun she never had before. She remembered those days and then Subaru had gathered everyone in the mansion's sitting room to reveal the finished collection.
"Alright, everyone, feast your eyes on this!" Subaru had declared, gesturing to the neatly arranged figures on the table.
The reactions were as varied as the people themselves.
"Wow, Subaru! These are amazing!" Emilia had said, her silver eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Not bad, Barusu," Ram had admitted begrudgingly, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Yer really somethin', Cap'n!" Garfiel had exclaimed, picking up his figure and inspecting it closely.
Even Otto, who often bore the brunt of Subaru's teasing, had been moved. "You even included me," he'd said softly, his fingers tracing the tiny merchant's bag.
Frederica laughed, showing her sharp teeth. "You even got my claws right! Impressive, Subaru."
Petra was practically bouncing with excitement. "This is so cute! I love it!"
Then Ram had noticed the Rem figure. "Barusu, is that—"
"Yes, Nee-san, that is Rem. If she wakes up, I wanted to show her that even when she was asleep, she was still here," Subaru said with a smile, making Ram simply scoff, her expression saying,You better.
Beatrice had watched from the corner of the room, pretending not to care. But when Subaru caught her eye and smiled, she felt a warmth in her chest that she couldn't explain.
Later, in the quiet of the library, Beatrice sat alone, the figures lined up neatly on the shelf. She picked up her own figure, running her fingers over the smooth wood.
"You're such a fool, I suppose," she murmured, her voice soft.
Her gaze drifted to the sleeping Rem figure, and she felt a pang of sadness. Subaru had poured his heart into these carvings, capturing not just their appearances, but their essence. Each figure was a testament to his love and gratitude for the people around him.
"You put so much of yourself into these, in fact," Beatrice whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "And yet you act as though it's nothing."
The library was silent, but in her mind, she could still hear Subaru's laughter, his rambling explanations about the carving process, his relentless optimism.
Beatrice placed her figure back on the shelf, her fingers lingering for a moment before pulling away.
"Thank you, Subaru," she said softly, her words meant for no one but the empty room.
The figures stood as silent witnesses to the bonds they had all shared, a reminder of the moments that had brought them together. And though the mansion was quieter now, Beatrice felt a small, warm light in her heart—a gift Subaru had left behind, carved into wood and painted with love.
Present day Pov:
The pink book released both Emilia and Beatrice from its grasp, causing them to be stunned. They looked back at each other, wide-eyed, as they had known before that they were connected, but never enough to be a contractor and spirit. They had only felt like they were because their memories told them so. But after glimpsing just a fraction of what the book showed them, they immediately realized they had been mistaken.
"BETTY, WHAT WAS ALL THAT?!" Emilia, the first to recover, looked at Beatrice with panic in her eyes.
"Betty doesn't know, but that seems to be—" Beatrice's mind flickered, recalling that the person in the story was her true contractor, the one she had labeled as "Pride."
Then, Emilia remembered something that clicked. The man in the story wasn't the Archbishop of Pride, but her true knight, the one who had always loved her. "N-no... SUBARU!" she gasped.
Both of them were in a state of panic over what they had just seen when, suddenly, the book they had dropped onto the ground started to float up and spin. They tried to grab it once more, but the book merely trembled in response.
"Betty, don't let go of the book! We haven't seen all of it yet!" Emilia pleaded with the spirit, her desperation clear.
"Betty knows, I suppose... and you mustn't let go of it either, in fact," Beatrice replied, her tone a bit more composed but just as firm.
Despite their best efforts, the book released another burst of light. When the glow faded, they saw the title:The Boy Who Cried Wolf, by Natsuki Subaru. Seeing this made them both feel a heavy sense of guilt. They hadn't regained all their memories of Subaru, but they knew enough—he was precious to both of them.
Emilia, desperate to rescue her knight, quickly picked up Beatrice and began sprinting toward the carriage, where the others were waiting. Beatrice, however, wasn't thrilled about leaving the room. "What are you doing, you stupid girl, I suppose? Where are you taking Betty?" she demanded, irritated.
"I'm going to get back your contractor and my knight!" Emilia replied, her voice filled with panic. "We haven't seen him since his imprisonment... It's already been three weeks!"
Realizing that her contractor could be undergoing torture at this very moment, Beatrice's expression softened. She nodded and used her magic to accelerate their pace.
"Oh, Emilia-sama, are you—" Otto began to ask before he was cut off.
"No time, Otto! Take us to where Subaru is!" Emilia shouted as she jumped into the carriage, Beatrice following closely behind.
"Hold on, Princess. Isn't that Pride—" Garfiel, standing next to Otto, tried to speak, but was also cut off by Beatrice.
"NO, YOU OAF! THAT MAN IS MY CONTRACTOR, IN FACT!" Beatrice shouted, dropping the book Subaru had made for her, causing a massive headache for Otto and Garfiel. They began to recall bits and pieces of Subaru's importance to their camp.
Exchanging a look, Otto and Garfiel nodded, quickly rushing to get the carriage moving as fast as possible toward Subaru. But as they hurried, they didn't notice the book Beatrice had been holding glitch and change for just a few seconds. FromThe Boy Who Cried Wolf, it shifted to a picture of Subaru dressed in a witch cultist outfit, with the title:The Stellar Archives, Vol. 614285: The Spirit Who Cried Cultist. Then, just as quickly, it reverted back to normal.